Severe droughts and extreme temperatures in the farmland regions of America, Britain and Australia threaten to cause severe spikes in the prices of many basic foods. We can expect that, as these curses continue to plague this triumvirate of nations, not only will the price of wheat and other grain crops, as well as grain-based products, increase, but also that of other foods.

Since last year, the price of a dozen eggs has gone up almost 9 percent in America, while fresh fruit has risen more than 6 percent. This is simply the beginning, say economists, “who describe higher transportation costs and lower harvests as a perfect storm hovering over the grocery” (wndu News, August 1; emphasis ours). Although the price of many foods remains relatively stable or has only increased slightly, many analysts believe that persisting extreme weather, droughts and rising energy prices are brewing near the point where drastic price increases will occur.

Rising food prices, according to John Urbanchuk, food industry economist, are starting to “hit a head right now” and will continue rising for the next year or so (ibid.). In grocery stores around the country, store managers are already noticing that the less-expensive, generic brands of food are becoming more popular to shoppers.

Food price hikes haven’t nearly reached their potential, and already the American consumer is feeling the pinch at the check-out line. As energy prices soar and as American agriculture suffers under adverse weather conditions, this trend will only get worse.

In Britain, the recent summer drought and heat wave that destroyed crops could cause fruit and vegetable prices to skyrocket. Grain crops, including wheat, winter barley and oats, are producing significantly lower yields, while the decimation of fruit and vegetable crops is expected to send prices spiraling to 30-year highs.

At the end of July, analysts predicted that the UK’s pea harvest would be down by 20 percent, while harvests of other crops would be down up to 40 percent. The decimation sparked a country-wide rise in fruit and vegetable prices. Wholesale potato prices, for example, increased 36 percent over last year (Daily Mail, July 28).

A similar trend is making its mark in Australia. In July the Age reported that “[t]he latest inflation figures show the largest quarterly increase in food prices in 23 years …” (July 28). The Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that the food price index rose 4.1 percent in the June quarter alone, and had risen more than 8.3 percent on the previous year. “This is the highest increase in food prices in consecutive quarters since June 1983, and the largest year-on-year jump since 1989” (ibid.).

Fruit prices in Australia rose 52 percent overall for the June quarter. After Cyclone Larry lashed northern Queensland earlier this year, banana prices in Australia rose 250 percent. Across Australia the prices of a variety of foods, including dairy products, bread, beef, snack foods and lamb, are increasing.

America, Britain and Australia have been three of the wealthiest and most productive countries in the world. Now they are all experiencing tragic weather conditions. Why? The answer to this question lies in the Bible, and in the history of these nations. All three nations, which once possessed unmatched agricultural wealth, are all waning agricultural powers. To understand the rise of these nations to unprecedented richness, as well as their subsequent decline, which we are now witnessing, please read our free book The United States and Britain in Prophecy.